Since 1985, Habitat for Humanity Tampa Bay Gulfside has built more than 1,000 homes.
The St. Bede’s project is part of a broader effort by Habitat to partner with churches that own aging or underutilized properties.
As attendance declines and maintenance costs rise, some congregations are selling properties, merging with other churches, or reinvesting proceeds into new facilities.
Habitat is also planning a 100-townhome community at the former First Assembly of God church property on Wyatt Street in Largo, adjacent to its 54-unit Longlake Preserve townhome development.
The Wyatt Street site was recently rezoned for residential development. Sutton said Habitat is fundraising for infrastructure and negotiating potential subsidies with Pinellas County and the City of Largo, with construction anticipated to begin in 2027.
In Seminole, Habitat plans to demolish Lake Seminole Presbyterian Church at 8505 113th Street and replace it with 18 affordable villas for residents 55 and older. Habitat would work with the congregation to construct a new sanctuary as part of the project.
Notably, none of the church-property projects are using the state’s new Yes In God’s Backyard or YIGBY, framework, which allows qualifying religious institutions to pursue affordable housing development on land they own regardless of underlying zoning.
Sutton said the YIGBY legislation offers limited value for Habitat’s equity-building homeownership model, as the program is primarily geared toward rental housing rather than ownership opportunities.